The Worthington Scandal.

Manawatu Herald, 28 September 1897, Page 2

The Worth ington Scandal.

! On Sunday evening at Christ* church between 600 and 700 people congregated in Licbfield- street in the neighbourhood of the Oddfellows' Hall, where the man Worthington was lecturing. Inspector Broham, with a force of 40 police, was present. Worthington at the conclusion of his lecture, got into a cab, when a rush was made for it by the crowd, and groaning and hooting was indulged in amid a scene of great excitement. The crowd forced the police back till they got within a few yards of the cab, while the dense crowd in the street blocked all possible chance of the cab making head" way. The yelling and groaning continued and there appeared to be a strong probability of th 3 police being overpowered by the excited mob, and the cab overturned, and the occupants seriously iDJured. A consultation took place between the Magistrate?, after whioh Mr Beethani, S.M , mounted the box of the

vehicle, from which elevation he proceeded to read the Riot Act. Some tboting took place while the proclamation was being* read. Islr Beetham then gave instructions to the police to disperse the crowd, and the people giving way before the advance of the mounted troopers moved on to the footpaths, leaving the street perfaefcly clear ad far as the intervention o! High and Manchester streets, tirhere the traffic was again blocked. Eventually the cab turned round, &dd with two codstables on the box with the driver, reached Worthington's house in ColombcSstreet, where a large crowd assembled, but there wa3 no demonstration, and the police remained in the vicinity till the crowd dispersed. Great praise is due to the police, who exercised the greatest forbearance and coolness throughout. Three arrests were made.